Ch 19

Carmen’s POV

Gabe’s Birthday Party

After my incident with Gabriel, Shane had a heated conversation with him and he apologized for insulting me.  To say that I have completely forgiven him would be lying, but for Shane’s sake and because today is his birthday, I accepted his apology.

We spent the rest of the day shopping for my dress for the party.  I was so tired after trying on so many dresses, they were all so beautiful, and the fabrics were luxurious.  I really didn’t know how to choose between all these gorgeous dresses, luckily Shane was there and picked out two long evening dresses for me.  One was red and the other was white, both are low V neckline, embellished with crystal beads under the chest and waist. 

Shane assured me that it is going to be a small intimate party with his close friends and neighbors.   The guests are arriving in the evening, and guess what? Their definition of small is about 200 people!  Helena and an older woman, presumably, her mother, Peggy Peabody arrived late.   Peggy seems friendly but snobbish, somehow it’s exactly how I imagine Helena’s mother would be.  Like mother, like daughter is so true.

Shane is introducing me to some of the guests.   I am getting worried that most guests are above 50 until Pat and Katie’s friends starting to arrive.  

Pat and Shane are putting up a good show in front of the outsiders, I guess they have to put up some sort of ‘happy family’ faces out in the public.  I am starting to understand about the things that Katie told me before.  Even Shay has suited up nicely, looking very decent for the first time since I met him.

While the McCutcheons are entertaining their guests after the meal, Katie and I headed towards the bar for drink.

“Heard about what Gabe did to you!  Shocking! Are you ok?  Heard that you held your own with him.  Well done!”  Katie asks me while we sip our champagnes.

I cannot stop laughing at her comments. 

“Thank you.  It was surreal.  Never thought in a million years that I would experience anything like that!”